Like Mary, there is something about the Abu Dhabi Championship. Or at least there is for Paul Casey, the prodigiously talented but always enigmatic Englishman, who won this tournament two years ago and who at times in the third round threatened to run away with it again.

As it is, Casey will go into the final round with a four-shot lead over Martin Kaymer, another former winner of this event who is hardly in the slouch category. Yet the young German – not to mention the rest of the field – will have to play out of his skin if he is to have any chance of wresting the trophy and £300,000 winner's cheque away from the leader.

Even that might not be enough. On this evidence, the Englishman looks irresistible; a force of nature. The Abu Dhabi course is not easy but he made it look like a pitch and putt, carving nine birdies in 18 holes to sign for a nine-under par 63, following a 65 the previous day. "I didn't expect much after yesterday," he said afterwards, which may be a valuable tip for any golfer with ambition.

Casey cited an improved putting stroke as the most likely explanation for his ascent to the top of a leaderboard with a three-round total of 197, 19 under par. Last season he was tentative on the greens and found himself at the scruffy end of the putting statistics charts. This year he has approached the devilish art with a less fearful attitude, telling himself not to fear the consequences of missing. These are early days, but the portents are good.

A victory here and perhaps another over the coming weeks would see Casey installed as one of the favourites for the coming Masters, where he contended last year before fading on the final day. A victory at Augusta would, of course, be a career milestone for the player and it would put an end to one of the mysteries of European golf.

The Englishman, who has appeared in three Ryder Cup teams, has long been viewed as the most naturally gifted member of a generational group including Luke Donald and Ian Poulter. He has won eight times, ­including a victory at the 2006 World Match Play. He was subsequently named the European Tour golfer of the year, yet he is still perceived in some circles as being something of an underachiever, a potential major championship winner who has yet to live up expectations.

No doubt this is deeply unfair – winning golf tournaments in this day and age is a difficult business, after all – but it is also something of a compliment. Yet compliments do not build reputations. Victories do, and when Casey tees for today's final round he will be looking to add a ­little more lustre to his ­reputation.

Nathan Green of Australia and the American Tom Pernice Jr share the lead after the second round of the Sony Open in Hawaii. Taking advantage of an early start and ­pristine ­conditions at the Waialae Country Club, Green fired his second straight four-under-par 66 and is on 132 after 36 holes. Pernice played later in the day and ­blistered the course for a 63, firing five ­birdies and an eagle on the par-five 18.

Green, whose best finish in 90 previous PGA events was second at the Buick Invitational in 2006, had five birdies and one bogey during his round. "I don't think the conditions were as bad as we thought they were going to be," Green said. "Last night, you could hear the wind whipping. Sort of a stronger version of yesterday. It didn't seem ­anywhere near as strong as they predicted."

"Conditions like this on a challenging golf course and to get around in seven-under, yeah, it's a very good round," Pernice said. "You just kind of plod your way around and try to hang in there."

The pair hold a one-stroke edge over the first-round leader, Japan's Shigeki Maruyama, who fired a 68 to go with his opening 65, and America's Brian Gay.